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A Bucket-List Asia Trip You Can Afford

3/6/2016
— By Jamie Beckman, photographs by Andrew Rowat

1 / 17 Photos

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace, in Seoul, South Korea (palace admission about $3, royalpalace.go.kr). Want to see it for yourself? Round-trip airfare to Seoul from the U.S. usually hovers around $1,200, but we found flights from L.A. and NYC in the $600–$750 range—if you don’t mind a long layover in Peking or Shanghai (kayak.com).

Andrew Rowat

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace, South Korea

Andrew Rowat

This traditional hanok village is located in Changpyeong, within Damyang County. As for where to stay when you visit South Korea, guesthouses—such as the bright, modern three-room Urban Wood, in the artsy Hongdae region (from about $50 per night, urbanwood.co.kr)—are popular in Seoul.

Andrew Rowat

Towering trunks in Damyang's Juknokwon Bamboo Forest, open year round (admission about $3, 82/61-380-2680). Time your visit to early May to participate in the annual nature-centric Damyang Bamboo Festival, where you can taste local cuisine—including bamboo dishes—and see cultural performances.

Andrew Rowat

The view from Mount Umyeon in Seoul. Hiking to the top takes about an hour, with the Seoul Arts Center at the foot of the mountain and the Daeseongsa Buddhist temple at the peak (free).

Andrew Rowat

Hit the food stalls and small restaurants at Seoul's popular Gwangjang Market (above) for dishes like bibimbap (rice with vegetables and other mix-ins, like beef and eggs) and tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) (82/2-2267-0291).

Andrew Rowat

Sizzling morsels at Park Dae Gam Ne BBQ restaurant in the upscale Cheongdam area, in Seoul (82/2-545-7708). The restaurant is open 24 hours a day.

Andrew Rowat

Hop, skip, and jump at the seven-mile-long Cheonggyecheon public recreation space in downtown Seoul (sisul.or.kr).

Andrew Rowat

A group of teenage Korean boys in school uniforms in the Chungjangno shopping district in Gwangju, South Korea.

Andrew Rowat

One of the many specialties at Gwangjang Market in Seoul is bindaetteok, a Korean mung bean pancake.

Strike a pose with a guard at the main gate of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul (admission about $1, deoksugung.go.kr). Head to the gate between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to see the colorful Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony reenactment, held several times each day (closed Mondays, schedule varies seasonally).

Andrew Rowat

The Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of Seoul's five palaces (admission about $3, free guided tours, royalpalace.go.kr).

Chris102/Dreamstime

Price-wise, winter is usually the best time of year to find deals on flights and hotels, but when warm weather hits, put the Han River and its free summer shows on your itinerary. Entertainment ranges from traditional Korean music concerts to b-boy dance performances.

Ragsac19/Dreamstime

Prior to your visit, book a guided multilingual walking tour tailored to your interests, including tours of traditional markets, the ancient Mongchontoseong earthen fortress, or even Seoul City Hall (free, visitseoul.net).

Studioclover/Dreamstime

Seoul recently experienced a 13 percent drop in hotel prices, according to the Hotels.com, so you can afford to stay at a place like the massive, kid-friendly Lotte Hotel World (connected to Lotte World Adventure theme park) in the luxe Gangnam neighborhood of, yes, “Gangnam Style” fame (from about $165 per night, lottehotel.com).

Tawatchai Prakobkit/Dreamstime

The Seoul Ojangdong neighborhood’s Hamheung Naengmyeon food alley is famous for its chilled buckwheat noodles (82/2-2267-9500).

Ppy2010ha/Dreamstime

From the vibrant streets of Seoul to the tranquil beauty of the countryside, there may be no other country on earth that juxtaposes ancient traditions with an ultra-contemporary vibe the way South Korea does. Join us for a photo tour of the next top spot on your travel list.

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